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Dave Newman

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Dave Newman has been the sports editor at the New Richmond News since 1988. He has covered the action in the Middle Border Conference, Dunn-St. Croix Conference and Big Rivers Conference for nearly 30 years.

In a meet better suited for ducks than high school athletes, the St. Croix Central track coaches used last Tuesday’s meet at Baldwin-Woodville as an opportunity to get the team’s younger athletes their chance.

An early missed chance proved to be the only chance for the St. Croix Central softball team last Thursday. The Panthers loaded the bases in the first inning, but struggled to get baserunners home, as they have in several recent games. That proved to be the Panthers’ only scoring chance. They only had two baserunners in the final four innings in an 11-0 loss at Amery.

The St. Croix Central baseball team faced nine Wisconsin opponents in April. The Panthers didn’t score more than three runs against any of them. That offensive malaise is something the Panthers are hoping to shake off in May. They ended April with a 3-7 record, including losses against Baldwin-Woodville and Amery last Thursday and Friday. In their nine games against Wisconsin teams, the Panthers have scored a total of 18 runs. Their only larger outcome this season was in a 5-1 win against Calumet, Mich.

The challenging schedule the Somerset track team has faced all season has exposed them to a great deal of talented opposition, but hasn’t left much room for success on the team level. That changed last Monday when the Spartans competed at the fiveteam Glenwood City Invitational. The Somerset girls came away with their first team victory of the season while the Spartan boys ranked third in the team rankings.

Excellent pitching carried the New Richmond baseball and softball teams to Middle Border Conference wins on Tuesday. The New Richmond softball team rode a three-hit pitching performance from senior Erin Peterson to a 9-1 victory at Amery. The Tigers took charge late in the game, scoring three runs in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh. Senior Loni Bauer had one of the best hitting nights of her career, finishing with four hits.

Emma Wothe’s success as a powerlifter is the product of the overriding bond that she has for her team and teammates. TheNewRichmondHIgh School senior earned state and national powerlifting championships while helping the New Richmond girls squad win its first national team championship. Wothe followed her older brother, Ben, into powerlifting and in three years she progressed from a novice to a national champion. She learned quickly, placing 12th at state and qualifying for nationals as a sophomore, in her first year of the sport.

More than 200 students from four local high schools got a jump on the job market last Thursday. The students attended a hiring fair at St. Croix Central High School, where 41 businesses were represented. Students from New Richmond, St. Croix Central, Hudson and River Falls high schools attended the event.

Jason Koele didn't lose his love for music. But being diagnosed with hearing loss caused Koele to explore his other educational options. Koele looked into a number of opportunities, but was drawn to another position at St. Croix Central High School. Last week, he was hired to become the new Dean of Students/Athletic Director, replacing Jeremy Kerg who resigned recently.